Fabrizio meoni biography template
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Meoni death haunts Dakar
They were airlifted to Mali for today’s 13th stage but despite time to contemplate events, Meoni’s death is still troubling many of the riders.
Isidre Esteve, who lies third overall, witnessed the fatal crash and still finds it hard to believe it claimed the life of one of the Dakar Rally’s greatest riders.
He said: “It was an incredible accident because we sometimes are really fast in the desert without taking any risk. But we were all riding together, slowly because navigation was very difficult.
“Fabrizio fell right in front of me and I was sure that nothing serious had happened. Unfortunately it was not like that.
“We asked for a rest day as a sign of respect towards Fabrizio and also for ourselves because we are not in condition to race. Eventually everybody understood.”
Former bike champion Joan Roma, who now competes for Mitsubishi in the car class, was critical of the route of this year’s event in the wake of Meoni’s death.
“This Dakar is not especially demanding and not nice,” he said. “The specials are not good and they are taking us through places that are worth nothing and where navigation is not the main issue, only loads of hours and camel grass.
“We know where we are going, but sometimes those who organise the race go a bit too
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Dakar’s greatest motorcycle rivals
Following the retirement from racing offive-time Dakar winner Marc Comaand Cyril Despres's switch to cars, we're guaranteed a new winner in the Bike category of the 2016 Dakar Rally.
But it also marks an end to one of the greatest rivalries in Dakar Rally history, that saw two true greats of the sport battle it out for a decade to finish on top.
Hopefully we'll see some great drama from a new generation of riders, led by Joan Barreda, Matthias Walkner, Toby Price, Paolo Gonçalves, Hélder Rodrigues, Rubén Faria, David Casteu, Olivier Pain, Jordi Viladoms and Pablo Quintanilla, when the 2016 race kicks-off on January 2 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In the meantime though, let's look back at some of the greatest rivalries ever seen in the bike category at the Dakar Rally...
Hubert Auriol vs Gaston Rahier
The first truly great rivalry was in the 1984 Dakar, when Gaston Rahier squared off aganst defending champion Hubert Auriol. Riding the BMW GS 980 R, Auriol had won in 1981 and 1983, but Rahier, the 1975, 1976 and 1977 125cc motocross world champion, was a formidable opponent. Auriol won eight stages, Rahier just three, but greater consistency saw the diminutive Belgian take the overall victory in what was kn
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